[Verse 1]
Franny under the bridge
Mud on her boots
Counting the cars
Like they’re passing excuses
"Turn back now"
She croaks through the gloom
Practised her monster voice
In an empty bedroom
[Chorus]
I scare them away so they won't come close
Easier to be a story than a ghost
Paint myself ugly so they never know
How badly I’m begging
(begging)
For somebody’s eyes to stay
Franny under the bridge all day
[Verse 2]
Chewing on stones
Till her jaw feels numb
Names on the bricks
That she carved with her thumb
Rumours like ivy
Climb up the town
"Don’t cross the river
She’ll drag you down"
[Chorus]
I scare them away so they won't come close
Easier to be a story than a ghost
Paint myself ugly so they never know
How badly I’m begging
(begging)
For somebody’s eyes to stay
Franny under the bridge all day
[Bridge]
What if I waved
Instead of snarled? (hey)
What if I said
"I’m just a girl"
Would they still run
If they heard my name?
If I stepped in the sun
Would I melt
Or change?
[Chorus]
I scare them away so they won't come close
Easier to be a story than a ghost
Paint myself ugly so they never know
How badly I’m begging
(begging)
For somebody’s hands to reach
Under the bridge
And say
"Franny, you’re not what they preach"
[Outro]
Franny under the bridge
Water keeps moving on
She hums to the dark
Till the dark hums along